red flag

Meaning

A 'red flag' is a warning sign that indicates potential danger, problems, or dishonesty in a person, relationship, or situation. It comes from the physical use of red flags to signal danger. Today, people use it widely online and in daily life to describe early warning signs in dating or job interviews.

Examples

• If a company doesn't list the salary in the job description, that's a huge red flag for me.

  If a company doesn't list the salary in the job description, that's a huge red flag for me.

• He never talks about his past, which is definitely a red flag.

  He never talks about his past, which is definitely a red flag.

• I ignored the red flags early in the relationship, and now I regret it.

  I ignored the red flags early in the relationship, and now I regret it.

• Asking you to work on weekends during your interview is a major red flag.

  Asking you to work on weekends during your interview is a major red flag.

• We need to look out for any red flags before signing this contract.

  We need to look out for any red flags before signing this contract.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ His behavior was a red signal.

  ✓ His behavior was a red flag.

  While 'signal' makes sense logically, the set idiomatic expression in English is always 'red flag'.

• ✗ I saw some red flags on him.

  ✓ I saw some red flags in him.

  We do not usually see red flags 'on' a person physically; we notice them 'in' their behavior or character, or we say 'their behavior is a red flag'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The fact that he got angry so quickly during our first date was a major ___.

  💡 A warning sign of potential future trouble.

  Show answer

  red flag

• Always trust your gut if you notice a ___ during a job interview.

  💡 A sign that something might be wrong with the job or company.

  Show answer

  red flag